Letters to the Editor, Oct. 12

Thursday

Oct 12, 2017 at 2:00 AMOct 13, 2017 at 9:32 AM

Cougar study flawed

The financing of a cougar study by elk-hunting interests, as ODFW has, is sure to tempt bias in completion of the study, which doesn't mention harm to both flora and soils that won't be adequately protected by elk killed by hunters.

Scientists have found that hunters can't do the job well enough; in less than five years, the elk will indirectly destroy topsoil that nature won't be able to replace for hundreds of years.

ODFW should recall words of the U.S. Supreme Court: wild lands and wild life belong to the people — "to everyone in common ... in their collective, sovereign capacity ..."

The court goes on: "the power ... lodged in the state ... is to be exercised ... as a trust for the benefit of the people, and not as a prerogative for [benefit] of private individuals as distinguished from the public good."

In seeking to restore cougar culling that Oregon has voted out, ODFW has abandoned the people's will, good science, and their responsibility as trusties of the wild in their care.

Debbie Catalina

Williams

Again we struggle

Once again we struggle with the phenomenon of "mass murder."

Mr. Paddock was a video gambler: He did not even know his dealer! Shooting from his high perch, at what must have looked like a noisy ant-heap, he sprayed fire at a faceless crowd, mere numbers. When he shot himself, he erased another number: zero.

The world over, we see masses of people raped, murdered and displaced: faceless, nameless. We again are hearing threats of "annihilation."

We are heading into a season of gratitude for the freedom from hunger; of humbleness in a manger and sacrifice for a greater good. Let it not be a mere occasion for a turkey going "belly-up." Let us shake hands with our neighbors and look them in the eye: We ourselves may feel like persons instead of a number!

Hans Stroo

Medford

Time to act

Some of us care about future generations (our children and grandchildren); others do not. In the "don’t care" category fall occupants of the White House who ignorantly reject science and commit themselves and the nation to increasing climate pollution in our atmosphere. By their actions, they consign us to a planet with climate chaos when today’s severe hurricane and wildfires will offer fond memories of a better day.

Their insanity, supported by an equally uninformed and uncaring Congress, pressures state and local politicians to pick up the slack.

In Oregon, our state representatives will have an opportunity to elevate the state to leadership in efforts to combat global warming and its climate chaos consequences. The Clean Energy Jobs Bill can curtail climate pollution emissions in the state and generate revenue that targets impacted and economically depressed communities and regions. Rural Oregon could particularly benefit.

Instead of promoting a natural gas pipeline and export facility that would add immensely to the climate pollution problem we face, southern and coastal Oregon could harness these funds to promote renewable energy — a win-win, no-regrets solution to benefit labor, our region and our planet.